Kevin Henkes - Billy Miller Makes a Wish

For Laura, Will, and Claramy every wish come true

Contents

When Billy Miller blew out the eight candles on his birthday cake, he made a wish. He wished that something exciting would happen.

Not more than ten minutes latereven before the present opening had beguna police car and an ambulance flew past Billys house and raced down the block. The wail of sirens stopped nearby.

Without thinking, Billy ran out the door, turned in the direction of the flashing red lights, and followed after them.

Wait up, his father called.

Along the block, bats swooped from the trees and fireflies pulsed in slow motion, but Billy didnt notice. He just ran. Neither a police car nor an ambulance had ever come to Maxwell Street before. At least, not that Billy knew of.

The police car and the ambulance had parked in front of Mr. Tooleys house at the far corner.

Billy stood, still as glass, at the edge of Mr. Tooleys driveway. His father caught up to him and firmly placed his hands on Billys shoulders.

Whats happening? Billy whispered into the green darkness.

I dont know, said Papa. I dont know.

Billy was mesmerized. He watched Mr. Tooleys house intently. It dawned on him that being a paramedic when he grew up might be a good idea. It would be better than being a regular doctor because youd still get to help people, but youd also be able to drive fast and use a siren.

Neighbors were gathering on the sidewalk and driveway in clusters. Papa slipped away and talked to a couple people, then came back to Billy.

After lingering a few more minutes, Papa said, I think we should go home. Mom and Sal are waiting. We still have birthday business to attend to. And I still have some packing to do.

Papa? I mean, Dad, said Billy. Do you think Mr. Tooleys okay?

I hope so.

Lately Billy had been trying to call his father Dad, rather than Papa, which is what hed called him for as long as he could remember. It was a hard habit to break. And even when Billy remembered to call him Dad, he still thought of him as Papa. Maybe he always would. He was having the same problem calling Mama Mom.

In the silence that followed, the stars seemed to draw closer, as if they, too, wanted to know what was going on.

Lets go, said Papa. He directed Billy toward home and gave him a gentle shove. They walked quietly across Mr. Tooleys perfect lawn.

It was strange. It was as if the excitement Billy had felt about his birthday had been shut off inside him and a different excitementbecause of the police car and ambulancehad been stirred up and had taken over. There was another feeling that was jumbled with it, becoming stronger. It was a certain uneasiness because Papa was going on a trip tomorrow. He was going to an art camp for adults. Hed be gone for four nights. Billy wished he could go with Papa.

Billy turned back for one last look at Mr. Tooleys house. The paramedics were taking a stretcher out the front door. There definitely was someone on the stretcher.

Is this happening because of my wish? Billy wondered.

Papa saw the stretcher, too. But he kept guiding Billy forward. Homeward, buddy, he said in a jolly voice. I could use another piece of cake.

They continued home. Now Billy noticed the fireflies. How could he not? They were flickering like Christmas lights. Blink, blink, blink. Blinking as if to say, Why? Why? Why?

Why did I make that wish? thought Billy.

Billy forgot about Mr. Tooley as soon as he walked through his own front door.

Whered you go? asked Billys little sister, Sally, whom everyone called Sal. Its your birthday!

If you hadnt come back soon, Sal would have opened your presents, said Mama.

Its my birthday soon, said Sal. She would be four in a month. She was more than ready.

Billy saw his parents share a few serious wordsquickly and quietly. Papa shrugged and Mama nodded and then everyone piled onto the couch with Billys presents.

Open mine first! said Sal. Its really good. Youll like it. Beaming, she thrust a package at her brother. I wrapped it myself, she said proudly.

I can tell, said Billy.

Mama helped, Sal explained. She tied the bow.

The present looked like a big ball of crumpled tissue paper of many colors held together with quantities of tape. It was tied nicely with red ribbon.

Billy untied the bow and tore into the wrapping. Theres nothing here, he said. Is this a joke?

Keep going, said Sal, giggling.

Finally, when he was nearly ready to give up, Billy uncovered a little blue eraser in the shape of an elephant. Its trunk was missing. He didnt know what to say.

Its from my collection, said Sal. But I didnt want it anymore. I lost its nose. So now you can have it.

Thanks a lot, said Billy. He rolled his eyes. But he wasnt disappointed or too annoyed, because he knew he had real presents from his parents.

Now Im mostly just keeping my little whales, so maybe you could have some of my other eraser animals, too, said Sal. Maybe Ill give you some for Christmas.

Billy scanned his presents, deciding which to open next.

Wait, said Sal. Ill be right back. I forgot the Drip Sisters. The girls should be here. She flew out of the room.

Shes something, said Papa. He often said this.

I cant believe the Drop Sisters are out of our lives, said Mama. Replaced by the Drip Sisters.

At least the Drip Sisters are more portable, said Papa.

But easier to lose, said Mama. She raised her eyebrows and thinned her lips, making a funny face. I can see it now....

The Drop Sisters had been Sals obsession and constant companions. They were five identical yellow plush whales named Raindrop, Dewdrop, Snowdrop, Gumdrop, and Lemondrop. Sal used to take them everywhere, which was a problem at times. Shed cart them around in a grungy pillowcase. She still slept with them, but they stayed on her bed for the most part.

The Drip Sisters were little erasers shaped like whales. Sal had five of them as well, also yellow, named Raindrip, Dewdrip, Snowdrip, Gumdrip, and Lemondrip.

Lately, when Billy was mad at Sal, hed say she was the biggest drip of all.

Were back! said Sal, reentering the living room. Her eyes were sharp, bright as sparks. The girls are right here, she said, patting her bulging pocket.

Then lets get this birthday show rolling, said Papa.

Joyfully, Billy ripped into his other presents. They were definitely better than the trunkless elephant eraser.

Billy got a new soccer ball. It came with a pump and a needle that looked like a sleek silver insect that you inserted into the ball to add more air.

He got a T-shirt with a bat printed on it, which he put on instantly. It fit perfectlyit was roomy, so it didnt pinch at his armpits the way some of his shirts did.

The bat was cartoony with goggle eyes. It had big sharp teeth and claws. And the shirt smelled new. Billy repeatedly pulled the shirt up, buried his face in it, and inhaled deeply.